Protective coatings for floors formed from organic materials

ABSTRACT

A composition for protecting a surface of an organic substrate, such as VCT, wood, or a synthetic laminate material, includes a silicate (i.e., an alkali metal polysilicate or colloidal silica) and a siliconate (e.g., a metal siliconate, such as an alkali metal methyl siliconate, etc.). In addition, the composition may include acrylic latex, a silane coupling agent, and a solvent, such as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether. Such a composition may also include a leveling agent, such as a surfactant. Organic substrates, such as VCT, wood, and synthetic laminate materials, with such a composition on their surfaces are also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/016,748, filed on Jan. 28, 2011, and titled “PROTECTIVE COATINGS FORORGANIC SUBSTRATES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS” (hereinafter “the '748Application”), which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C.§119(e), to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/299,874, filed onJan. 29, 2010, and titled “PROTECTIVE COATINGS FOR ORGANIC SUBSTRATESAND ASSOCIATED METHODS” (hereinafter “the '874 ProvisionalApplication”). The entire disclosures of both the '748 Application andthe '874 Provisional Application are, by this reference, incorporatedherein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention, in various embodiments, relates generally tocompositions and methods for protecting and polishing substrates and,more specifically, to compositions that include silicates, such aspolysilicates (e.g., lithium polysilicate, etc.) or colloidal silica. Inparticular, the present invention relates to compositions that include asilicate and one or more siliconates, or organosiliconates, as well asto the application of such compositions to various organic substrates.In a specific embodiment, the present invention relates to a compositionthat includes lithium polysilicate and a siliconate. Such a compositionmay, in some embodiments, be applied to organic substrates, such asvinyl composition tile (VCT).

RELATED ART Use of Alkali Metal Silicates on Inorganic Substrates

Alkali metal silicates, such as potassium polysilicate and sodiumpolysilicate, have long been used to protect, harden, and polishinorganic substrates, such as cement. When applied to an inorganicsubstrate, alkali metal silicates react with free lime (calcium oxide,calcium hydroxide) in the inorganic substrate to prevent the surface ofthe inorganic substrate from becoming porous, or to reduce porosity atthe surface of the inorganic substrate.

Over recent years, lithium polysilicates, which are also known in theart as “lithium silicates,” have found widespread use in a variety ofcompositions that are formulated for application to inorganicsubstrates, such as concrete, masonry, and stone. Compositions thatinclude lithium silicates may be formulated for a variety of purposes,including to protect, densify or harden, and/or polish the inorganicsubstrates to which they are applied.

The ever-increasing use of lithium silicate in connection with inorganicsubstrates has been due, in part, to its superior performance inpenetrating and reacting with inorganic substrates when compared withother alkali metal polysilicates, such as potassium polysilicates andsodium polysilicates. Among other things, lithium silicate is lessalkaline (i.e., has a lower pH) than other alkali metal silicates, whichprotects the inorganic substrate from undesirable reactions and improvesthe stability of the inorganic substrate. It has also been found thatlithium silicate penetrates more quickly and further into inorganicsubstrates than other alkali metal silicates (possibly due to itssmaller size than other alkali metal polysilicates), further enhancingthe ability of lithium silicate to protect the inorganic substrates towhich it is applied against staining and deterioration (such as thatcaused by wear, dusting, sweating, efflorescence, scaling, surfacealkali silica reaction (ASR), damaging alkalis, etc.).

Organic Flooring

Vinyl composition tile (VCT) flooring is formed by compressing vinylchips (under heat and pressure) into solid sheets, then cutting thesheets into tiles. The resulting tiles are inexpensive, durable (e.g.,they are highly resilient, resisting abrasion and impact damage), andeasy to maintain (e.g., they can be repeatedly refinished with chemicalfinishes and mechanical buffing equipment, they can be easily removedand replaced when damaged, etc). Thus, the use of VCT flooring is oftenfavored over other types of flooring in high traffic commercialsettings, such as stores, schools, and hospitals.

Conventionally, VCT and other types of organic flooring (e.g., othervinyl flooring materials, such as linoleum, polyvinyl chloride (PVC),and the like; hardwood; synthetic laminate flooring; etc.) have beenprotected by conventional floor waxes, particularly when a high glossfinish is desired. When wax is applied to a surface, such as VCT, it istypically applied in several (e.g., three to seven) relatively thickcoats. When subjected to traffic, the protective coating that has beenformed by the wax is scratched and scuffed. As the number of scratchesand scuffs increases, the gloss of the protective wax coating decreases.In order to maintain the desired level of glossiness, the protective waxcoating must be periodically reburnished, which consumes significantamounts of time. In addition, periodic reburnishing of waxed surfacesrequires the use of organic solvents, such as butoxy ethanol, which areoften harmful to the environment, as well as to the persons who use suchsolvents. In some settings, wax coatings on organic flooring substrates(e.g., VCT, etc.) are reburnished on a daily basis, requiringsignificant time and resources (e.g., burnishing pads, butoxy ethanol,etc.).

In addition to the undesired maintenance that wax coatings require, theymust also be stripped and replaced periodically. In high trafficsettings, such as stores, schools, and hospitals, wax protectivecoatings on flooring substrates (e.g., VCT, etc.) are often stripped andreplaced every six to eight weeks. Due to their thicknesses, waxprotective coatings must be stripped to prevent undesired wax buildup.Stripping requires the use of hazardous organic solvents, such as butoxyethanol, and consumes a great deal of time, as the old wax must becollected and discarded. Frequent reapplication of wax protectivecoatings also consumes valuable time and resources (e.g., wax,burnishing pads, etc.).

SUMMARY

The present invention includes compositions for protecting organicsubstrates, such as VCT. In addition, the present invention includesmethods for protecting exposed surfaces of organic substrates.

As used herein, the term “protect,” when used in reference to an organicsubstrate, includes, but is not limited to, hardening, densifying, andat least partially sealing the organic substrate. Additionally,“protection” of an organic substrate may include polishing a surface ofthe organic substrate.

Various embodiments of compositions that incorporate teachings of thepresent invention include water, a siliconate, such as an alkali metalpolysilicate (e.g., lithium polysilicate, potassium polysilicate, sodiumpolysilicate, etc.) or a colloidal silica, and a siliconate, such as ametal siliconate or, in some more specific embodiments, an alkali metalmethyl siliconate (e.g., sodium methyl siliconate, potassium methylsiliconate, etc.), along with acrylic latex, a silane coupling agent(e.g., an epoxysilane, such asN-β(aminoethyl)-r-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane, etc.), a solvent (e.g.,a glycol solvent, such as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, etc.), and anoptional leveling agent. The leveling agent may comprise a surfactant(e.g., a fluorosurfactant, etc.) or an organic leveling agent (e.g., asilicone leveling agent, etc.). The components of a composition thatincorporates teachings of the present invention are, in someembodiments, dispersed throughout the composition. In some embodiments,one or more of the components may be present in solution.

In another aspect, the present invention includes embodiments of methodsfor blending compositions that are useful for protecting organicsubstrates. One specific embodiment of such a method includes blending asurfactant and/or leveling agent into water, adding a solvent and/orsilane coupling agent to the mixture, then adding a silane, a silicate,a siliconate, and acrylic latex. Another embodiment of a method forcompounding a composition of the present invention includes mixing waterand a solvent, optionally adding a surfactant to that mixture, thenadding a silane coupling agent, a silicate, a siliconate, then acryliclatex.

The present invention also includes various embodiments of methods forprotecting organic substrates. In such embodiments, an embodiment of acomposition according to the present invention is applied to the organicsubstrate. A composition of the present invention may be sprayed onto asurface of the organic substrate and/or spread onto the surface of theorganic substrate (e.g., with a microfiber mop, etc.). The surface ofthe organic substrate, with the composition thereon, may then beburnished in a manner known in the art (e.g., with a diamond-impregnatedpad, etc.).

In a specific embodiment, an embodiment of a composition of the presentinvention is applied to a surface of an organic substrate, such as VCT.The composition may be sprayed and spread onto the surface of the VCT.The surface of the VCT may then be burnished. The application andburnishing processes may be repeated at least once. Such a process mayprotect the surface of the VCT, as well as provide it with a polishedfinish.

Other aspects of the present invention, as well as features andadvantages of various aspects of the present invention, will becomeapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration ofthe ensuing description and the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention includes compositions for protecting the surfacesof organic substrates. In some embodiments, compositions of the presentinvention may also impart organic substrate surfaces with a polishedfinish. One embodiment of such a composition includes water, a silicate(e.g., an alkali metal polysilicate, etc.), acrylic latex, a siliconate,a silane coupling agent, and a solvent. Such a composition mayoptionally include a leveling agent, such as a surfactant. In someembodiments where a surfactant leveling agent is included, thesurfactant may be a fluorosurfactant.

The following table lists various components that may be included invarious embodiments of a composition according to the present invention,as well as possible amounts of each component in such a composition:

Percent Percent (weight/weight) (weight/weight) Component Range SpecificEmbodiment) Water Balance 37.9 Solvent (e.g., Ethylene Glycol 0.5-2  1.0(Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether, Dipropylene Monobutyl Ether) GlycolDimethyl Ether, Dipropylene Glycol n-Butyl Ether, etc.) Leveling Agent(e.g., Fluoro 0.1-2  0.1 (Silicone Surfactant, Silicone LevelingLeveling gent) Agent, Trialkyl Phosphate, etc.) Silane Coupling Agent1-5  4.0 (e.g., N-β (aminoethyl)-r-aminopropyl- trimethoxysilane, etc.)Silicate (e.g., Lithium 15-50 32.0 Polysilicate, etc.) Alkali MetalMethyl  2-15  5.0 Siliconate (e.g., Potassium Methyl Siliconate, etc.)Acrylic Latex  4-50 20.0

All weight percentages in the preceding table and elsewhere throughoutthis disclosure account for the total weight of each component,including water.

While other components may be included some embodiments of a compositionthat incorporates teachings of the present invention, other embodimentsconsist essentially of water, a silicate, acrylic latex, a siliconate, asilane coupling agent, and a solvent, with the surfactant being anon-essential component. In other embodiments, a composition of thepresent invention consists of water, a silicate, acrylic latex, asiliconate, a silane coupling agent, and a solvent, while a surfactant,such as a fluorosurfactant, may be required in still other embodimentsof a composition of the present invention.

In various embodiments, the solvent of a composition of the presentinvention may be a glycol solvent, such as ethylene glycol monobutylether. Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether is also known as“2-butoxyethanol” and as “Glycol Ether EB.” It has the molecularchemical formula C₆H₁₄O₂ and the chemical structureCH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂OH. Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether is a solvent fora variety of resins, including, without limitation, acrylic resins. As asolvent, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether enhances wettability of acomposition of the present invention. Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether isavailable from a variety of sources, including the Dow Chemical Companyof Midland, Mich., Eastman Chemical Company of Kingsport, Tenn., andLyondell Chemical Company of Houston, Tex.

Other examples of solvents that may be used in various embodiments ofcompositions according to the present invention include, but are notlimited to, dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether and dipropylene glycoln-butyl ether. Dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether has the chemicalformula CH₃OCH₂CH(CH₃)OCH₂CH(CH₃)OCH₃ (major isomer). The Dow ChemicalCompany sells dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether under the trademarkPROGLYDE™ DMM. The chemical formula of dipropylene glycol n-butyl etheris C₄H₉O[CH₂CH(CH₃)O]₂H (major isomer). Dipropylene glycol n-butyl etheris available from The Dow Chemical Company under the trademark DOWANOL®DPnB.

A silane coupling agent of a composition of the present invention mayhave at least two reactive groups of different types bonded to a siliconatom in the molecule. One of the reactive groups (e.g., a methoxy group(—OCH₃), an ethoxy group (—OCH₂CH₃), a silanic hydroxyl group (—SiOH),etc.) is reactive with an inorganic material, while another of thereactive groups (e.g., a vinyl group (—CH═CH₂), an epoxide (in which anoxygen atom is covalently bonded to two adjacent, covalently bondedcarbon atoms, forming a three-member ring), a methacryl group(CH₂═C(CH₃)C(O)—), an amino group (—NH₂), a thiol or mercapto group(—SH), etc.) is reactive with an organic material. These two reactivegroups of the silane coupling agent bind inorganic components (e.g., thesilicate, etc.) and organic components (e.g., the siliconate, etc.) of acomposition of the present invention to each other. It is also believedthat the two reactive groups of the silane coupling agent enhanceadhesion of a composition of the present invention to an organicsubstrate (e.g., a vinyl material, such as VCT, linoleum, PVC, etc.;wood; a synthetic laminate material; a rubberized flooring material;etc.). In addition to its binding and potential adhesive properties, thesilane coupling agent may serve as a sealant and/or as a waterrepellant.

In a specific embodiment, the silane coupling agent of a composition ofthe present invention may comprise or consist of an aminoethylaminopropyl trimethoxy silane (C₈H₂₂N₂O₃Si), which is known by thechemical names N-β(aminoethyl)-r-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane,[3-(2-Aminoethyl)aminopropyl]trimethoxysilane, andN-[3-(Trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine. Such a material isavailable from Dow Corning Corporation of Midland, Mich., as Z-6020, aswell as from a variety of other sources.

The silicate of various embodiments of a composition of the presentinvention may comprise an alkali metal polysilicate, such as lithiumpolysilicate. In alternative embodiments, the silicate may comprise analkali metal polysilicate, such as potassium polysilicate, sodiumpolysilicate, and/or a colloidal silica in place of or in addition tothe lithium polysilicate. Silicates are available from a variety ofsources. For example, Grace Davison, a subsidiary of the GracePerformance Chemicals division of W. R. Grace & Co. of Columbia, Md.,sells lithium polysilicate under the trade name LUDOX®. Varioussilicates are also manufactured by PQ Corporation of Malvern, Pa.

Silicates, which are inorganic materials, may impart a cured orsolidified form of a composition of the present invention (e.g., acoating, etc.) with a desired hardness, which may further preventabrasion or impact damage to the organic substrate. Silicates may alsochemically react with components of some organic substrates to furtherenhance the hardness that the silicates otherwise provide. As anexample, silicates may chemically react with various materials oforganic substrates, such as the calcium carbonate binders that arefrequently used in VCT.

In addition to imparting a composition of the present invention withhardness, a silicate may provide some water repellency, as well asminimize or eliminate corrosion of an organic substrate to which thecomposition is applied (e.g., on which a coating that comprises a curedor solid form of the composition is formed, etc.).

Further water repellency may be provided by the siliconate of acomposition of the present invention. In some embodiments, thesiliconate may comprise a metal siliconate, such as an alkali metalsiliconate (e.g., potassium methyl siliconate and/or sodium metalsiliconate, etc.) all of which are manufactured by Dow Corning. In aspecific embodiment, the siliconate of a composition of the presentinvention consists of the potassium methyl siliconate available from DowCorning as XIAMETER® 0777. In such embodiments, the composition laysout, or spreads, well. Thus, there may be no need for a leveling agent(e.g., a fluorosurfactant, etc.) in such embodiments.

Acrylic latex is an emulsion of an acrylic polymer in water. In acomposition of the present invention, acrylic latex may facilitateadhesion of the composition to an organic substrate. In a specificembodiment, the acrylic latex may have a solids content of about 47% toabout 49%, such as the PLIOTEC® PA90 acrylic latex available fromEliokem of Villejust, France. Another example of an acrylic latex thatmay be used in various embodiments of compositions according to thepresent invention is AVANSE™ MV-100 from The Dow Chemical Company.

In embodiments of compositions that include surfactants, nonionicfluorinated surfactants, or “fluorosurfactants,” may be used.Fluorosurfactants are more effective than ionic (hydrocarbon)surfactants at reducing the surface tension of water and, thus, thesurface tension of a composition in which they are included. The reducedsurface tension of a composition that includes one or morefluorosurfactants may facilitate wetting of an orgainic substratesurface with the composition, as well as spreading and leveling of thecomposition on the surface of the organic substrate. The inclusion of afluorosurfactant in a composition of the present invention may alsoenable a composition of the present invention to penetrate smaller voidsin an organic substrate than may be penetrated by embodiments ofcompositions that lack fluorosurfactants (i.e., that include other typesof surfactants or that lack surfactants). A specific embodiment of acomposition of the present invention includes the fluorosurfactantmarketed as MASURF® FS-120A by Mason Chemical Company of ArlingtonHeights, Ill. In another specific embodiment, a composition of thepresent invention may include a fluorosurfactant that comprises a shortchain molecule (e.g., four carbon atoms, etc.), such as theperfluorobutanesulfonic acid-based fluorosurfactants marketed by 3M ofSt. Paul, Minn., under the trade name NOVEC™.

As an alternative to a surfactant, or in addition thereto, a compositionaccording to the present invention may include a leveling agent of atype known in the art. Like surfactants, leveling agents enable acomposition of the present invention to wet and smoothly coat an organicsubstrate and, in the case of organic substrates that are formed fromporous materials, to penetrate the organic substrate. One example of aleveling agent is the silicon leveling agent available from Dow Corningunder the trade name DOW CORNING® 2-9034 Emulsion. Another example of aleveling agent is trialkyl phosphate, such as thetris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate having the chemical formula C₁₈H₃₉O₇Pavailable from Chemtura Corporation of Philadelphia, Pa., as KRONITEX®KP-140 (“KP-140”).

In addition to acting as a leveling agent, KP-140 may reduce oreliminate foaming as a composition that incorporates teachings of thepresent invention is compounded and/or used. When relatively smallamounts (e.g., less than about 0.3% w/w, about 0.2% w/w, about 0.1% w/w,etc.) of KP-140 are used in a composition of the present invention, thecomposition may harden more quickly than, and may reduce soiling betterthan, compositions that include relatively large amounts (e.g., about0.3% w/w, more than about 0.3% w/w, etc.) of KP-140.

The following EXAMPLES identify components of some additional specificembodiments of compositions that incorporate teachings of the presentinvention.

EXAMPLE 1

Component Percent (weight/weight) Water 54.671 Trialkyl Phosphate (e.g.,KRONITEX ® 0.3 KP-140 from Chemtura Corporation) Dipropylene GlycolDimethyl Ether 0.55 (e.g., PROGLYDE ™ DMM from The Dow Chemical Company)Silane (e.g., DOW CORNING Z-6020 ® 2.149 from Dow Corning Corporation)Lithium polysilicate 18.3 Potassium Methyl Siliconate 2.69 Latex (e.g.,AVANSE ™ MV-100 from 21.34 The Dow Chemical Company)

A composition having the formulation set forth in EXAMPLE 1 becomesresistant to standing water about twenty-four (24) hours to aboutthirty-six (36) hours after it has been applied to and allowed to dry onan organic substrate, such as VCT.

EXAMPLE 2

Component Percent (weight/weight) Water 39.99 Dipropylene Glycol n-ButylEther 1.00 (e.g., DOWANOL ® DPnB from The Dow Chemical Company) Silane(e.g., DOW CORNING Z-6020 ® 3.81 from Dow Corning Corporation) Lithiumpolysilicate 30.20 Potassium Methyl Siliconate 5.00 Latex (e.g.,AVANSE ™ MV-100 from 20.00 The Dow Chemical Company)

The composition of EXAMPLE 2 may be applied directly to an organicsubstrate, or it may comprise a concentrate, which may be diluted withwater before application to an organic substrate. In a specificembodiment where the composition of EXAMPLE 2 comprises a concentrate,it may be diluted with water at a ratio of 1:1, by weight or volume,before application to an organic substrate. The resulting dilutedcomposition hardens quickly (more quickly than the compositions ofEXAMPLES 1 and 3), but it takes about seven (7) days or longer fromapplication and drying on the surface of an organic substrate before theresulting film and, thus, the surface of the organic substrate resistsstanding water.

EXAMPLE 3

Component Percent (weight/weight) Water 53.364 Trialkyl Phosphate (e.g.,KRONITEX ® 0.3 KP-140 from Chemtura Corporation) Dipropylene Glycoln-Butyl Ether 0.7 (e.g., DOWANOL ® DPnB from The Dow Chemical Company)Silane (e.g., DOW CORNING Z-6020 ® 1.916 from Dow Corning Corporation)Lithium polysilicate 16.32 Potassium Methyl Siliconate 2.4 Latex (e.g.,AVANSE ™ MV-100 from 25.0 The Dow Chemical Company)

When the composition of EXAMPLE 3 is applied to an organic substrate, itmay resist standing water within about thirty (30) minutes after it hasdried. The composition of EXAMPLE 3 flows and levels on the surfaces oforganic substrates better than the compositions of EXAMPLES 1 and 2,with less streaking than those compositions, making it easier to applythan the compositions of EXAMPLES 1 and 2. It remains relatively softfor about four (4) or five (5) days, however.

In another aspect, the present invention includes embodiments of methodsfor blending compositions that are useful for protecting organicsubstrates. One specific embodiment of such a method includes mixingwater and a solvent, optionally adding a leveling agent to that mixture,then adding a silane coupling agent, a silicate, a siliconate, thenacrylic latex. In an even more specific embodiment, the surfactantand/or leveling agent may be “sweated” into the water. Sweating mayinclude mixing using high shear agitation, in a manner known in the art.Sweating may be effected for a sufficient period of time for thesurfactant and/or leveling agent to be completely dissolved and/orhomogeneously dispersed throughout the water. In some embodiments, thesurfactant and/or leveling agent may be sweated into the water for aperiod of about thirty (30) minutes. In embodiments where a solvent isused, the solvent may also be sweated into the water and any previouslyincluded component (e.g., a surfactant, a leveling agent, etc.). As withsweating a surfactant and/or a leveling agent into water, the process ofsweating a solvent into water or an aqueous solution or suspension mayinclude mixing or agitation, and may be effected for a sufficientduration to enable the solvent to completely dissolve and/or behomogeneously dispersed throughout the water.

In addition, the present invention includes methods for protectingorganic substrates. An embodiment of a composition according to thepresent invention may be applied to the surface of an organic substrate(e.g., by spraying, etc.) then spread (e.g., with a microfiber mop,etc.). The composition may be applied in one coat or in a plurality ofcoats.

In some embodiments, the surface of the organic substrate, with thecomposition thereon, may then be polished or burnished in a manner knownin the art (e.g., with a diamond-impregnated pad, etc.). In embodimentswhere more than one coat of the composition is to be applied to anorganic substrate, the surface to which the composition is applied (andthe composition on that surface) may be polished or burnished after eachapplication.

In a specific embodiment, a composition of the present invention isapplied to a surface of an organic substrate (e.g., a vinyl material,such as VCT, linoleum, PVC, etc.; wood; a synthetic laminate material; arubberized flooring material; etc.). The composition may be sprayedand/or spread onto the surface of the organic substrate. The surface ofthe organic substrate may then be burnished, particularly where theorganic substrate comprises a floor (e.g., a VCT floor, a linoleumfloor, a PVC floor, a hardwood floor, laminate flooring, a rubberizedfloor, etc.). The application and/or burnishing processes may berepeated at least once. Such a process may protect the surface of theorganic substrate, as well as provide it with a polished finish.

When such a process is employed (e.g.; on a vinyl material, such as VCT,linoleum, PVC, etc.; wood; a synthetic laminate material; a rubberizedflooring material; or any other organic substrate), each layer of thecoating may have a thickness of about 5 μm to about 6 μm, which may besignificantly thinner than a layer of wax. The glossiness of thecoating, which may be measured with a gloss meter of a type known in theart in terms of percentage of light reflected at an angle of 60° to asurface of the substrate, may be up to about 80% or more.

When applied to a floor that is subjected to moderate to heavy levels oftraffic, a coating of a composition of the present invention may have auseful life at least six months, and may last for as long as two yearsor more, as opposed to a useful life for a protective wax coating ofabout six weeks with frequent (e.g., daily, weekly, etc.) reburnishingin high traffic areas. Due to its hardness, a coating of the presentinvention may retain its shine and exhibit little or no wear over thelife of the coating. If desired, however, a coating of the presentinvention may be reburnished from time to time, without the requirementof environmentally unfriendly chemicals, such as the butoxy ethanol thatis typically used when waxed flooring surfaces are reburnished.

At the end of its useful life, a coating of the present invention neednot be stripped from the surface of an organic substrate, as is requiredwhen wax is used. Due to the thickness (or, rather, thinness) of theworn coating(s), another coating may simply be applied atop the worncoating(s). When such a technique is used, the new coating will havesubstantially the same appearance (e.g., glossiness, etc.) as theoriginal coating. By eliminating the need to strip the worn coating, theuse of environmentally unfriendly chemicals is avoided, as is the mess(e.g., clumps of old wax, etc.) that is typically associated whenconventional protective coatings are stripped from organic substrates(e.g., waxes from floors, etc.).

Although the foregoing description contains many specifics, these shouldnot be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention, butmerely as providing illustrations of some embodiments. Similarly, otherembodiments of the invention may be devised which do not exceed thescope of the present invention. Features from different embodiments maybe employed in combination. The scope of the invention is, therefore,indicated and limited only by the appended claims and their legalequivalents, rather than by the foregoing description. All additions,deletions and modifications to the invention as disclosed herein whichfall within the meaning and scope of the claims are to be embracedthereby.

What is claimed:
 1. A floor, comprising: an organic substrate defining afloor surface; and at least one first product on the floor surface, theat least one first product comprising a product of one or more reactionsbetween components of a composition including a silicate, a siliconate,acrylic latex, and a silane coupling agent; and at least one secondproduct of one or more reactions between at least one component of thecomposition and an organic material exposed at the floor surface, the atleast one first product and/or the at least one second product impartingthe floor surface with a glossiness that, when light is directed towardat least one of the at least one first product and the at least onesecond product at an angle of 60° to the floor surface, about 80% ormore of the light is reflected.
 2. The floor of claim 1, wherein the atleast one first product comprises at least one of polymer on the floorsurface.
 3. The floor of claim 2, wherein the at least one polymercomprises a polymer formed from the siliconate, the acrylic latex, orthe silane coupling agent.
 4. The floor of claim 1, wherein the at leastone second product comprises at least one of: a product of a reactionbetween the organic material and the silicate; and a product of areaction between the organic material and the silane coupling agent. 5.The floor of claim 1, wherein the organic substrate comprises vinylcomposition tile, an organic laminate, wood or a wood laminate, or arubberized flooring surface.
 6. A floor, comprising: an organicsubstrate defining a floor surface; and a product on the floor surface,the product comprising a product of a reaction between molecules of atleast one component of a composition including a silicate and asiliconate, the product imparting the floor surface with a glossinessthat, when light is directed toward at least one of the products at anangle of 60° to the floor surface, about 80% or more of the light isreflected.
 7. The floor of claim 6, wherein the product comprises apolymer.
 8. The floor of claim 6, wherein the polymer comprises apolymer formed at least in part by the siliconate.
 9. The floor of claim6, wherein the polymer comprises a polymer formed at least in part by atleast one of an acrylic latex and a silane coupling agent of thecomposition.
 10. The floor of claim 6, wherein the organic substratecomprises vinyl composition tile, an organic laminate, wood or a woodlaminate, or a rubberized flooring surface.
 11. A floor, comprising: anorganic substrate defining a floor surface; and a product of a reactionbetween at least one component of a composition including a silicate anda siliconate and an organic material exposed at the floor surface, theproduct imparting the floor surface with a glossiness that, when lightis directed toward at least one of the products at an angle of 60° tothe floor surface, about 80% or more of the light is reflected.
 12. Thefloor of claim 11, wherein the product comprises a polymer.
 13. Thefloor of claim 11, wherein the product comprises a product formed atleast in part by a silicate and/or a silane coupling agent of thecomposition.
 14. The floor of claim 13, wherein the product comprises aproduct formed at least in part between the silicate and the organicmaterial and/or the silane coupling agent and the organic material. 15.The floor of claim 11, wherein the organic substrate comprises vinylcomposition tile, an organic laminate, wood or a wood laminate, or arubberized flooring surface.
 16. A floor, comprising: a syntheticorganic substrate defining a floor surface; and a product on the floorsurface, the product comprising a product of at least one of: a reactionbetween molecules of at least one component of a composition that hasbeen applied to the floor surface, the composition including a silicateand a ciliconate; and a reaction between at least one component of thecomposition and a synthetic organic material exposed at the floorsurface.
 17. The floor of claim 16, wherein the product comprises apolymer.
 18. The floor of claim 17, wherein the polymer comprises apolymer formed at least in part by the siliconate of the composition.19. The floor of claim 18, wherein the polymer comprises a polymerformed at least in part by acrylic latex and/or a silane coupling agentof the composition.
 20. The floor of claim 16, wherein the product isformed at least in part by acrylic latex and/or a silane coupling agentof the composition.
 21. The floor of claim 20, wherein the productcomprises a product formed at least in part between the silicate and thesynthetic organic material and/or the silane coupling agent and theorganic material.
 22. The floor of claim 16, wherein the syntheticorganic material comprises vinyl composition tile, an organic laminateand a rubberized flooring surface.
 23. A floor, comprising: a syntheticorganic substrate defining a floor surface; and a product on the floorsurface, the product formed at least in part by one or more componentsof a composition comprising a silicate and a siliconate.
 24. The floorof claim 23, wherein the product is formed at least in part by thesilicate or the siliconate.
 25. The floor of claim 23, wherein theproduct is formed at least in part by acrylic latex of the compositionand/or a silane coupling agent of the composition.
 26. The floor ofclaim 23, wherein the product imparts the floor surface with aglossiness that, when light is directed toward at least one of theproducts at an angle of 60° to the floor surface, about 80% or more ofthe light is reflected.